Ion Mobility Analyzer Gas Recirculation for Higher Separation Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ion mobility separation techniques face limitations in gas flow, leading to restricted ion throughput and separation efficiency due to reliance on gas supply from the source or external lines, which results in excessive pumping requirements and space charge effects.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a gas recirculator that supplies a significant portion of the gas flow through the ion mobility separation region, reducing the need for excessive pumping capacity and enabling higher gas flows, with at least 50% of the gas flow within the ion separation region provided by the recirculator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If gas flow is supplied from external lines or source to increase gas flow velocity for improved separation efficiency, then separation efficiency is improved, but pumping requirements become excessive and space charge effects increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism by recirculating a portion of the effluent gas back to the ion mobility separator inlet. This creates a closed-loop system where the gas flow is continuously reused, maintaining high gas flow velocity and separation efficiency while reducing the need for continuous external gas supply and minimizing pumping requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding the effluent gas after it passes through the ion mobility separator, the patent recovers and recirculates a portion of it back to the inlet. This recovery approach maximizes the utilization of the gas flow, maintaining separation performance without requiring excessive pumping capacity to continuously supply fresh gas.
2Quantity of substance
If gas flow is increased from external sources to improve ion throughput, then ion throughput is improved, but space charge effects worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The recirculation system creates a feedback loop that maintains optimal gas flow conditions within the separator. By continuously circulating a controlled portion of the effluent gas, the system maintains high ion throughput while regulating the gas flow to prevent excessive space charge effects that would occur with uncontrolled external gas supply.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by recirculating only a portion (e.g., 10-50%) of the effluent gas rather than all of it. This partial recirculation is sufficient to maintain high ion throughput and separation efficiency while avoiding the harmful space charge effects that would result from excessive gas flow.
3Reliability
If gas flow is supplied from source or external lines to maintain separation performance, then separation performance is maintained, but device complexity increases due to excessive pumping requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback-based recirculation system maintains reliable separation performance by continuously circulating a controlled portion of effluent gas through the separator. This approach eliminates the need for complex external gas supply infrastructure and excessive pumping capacity, simplifying the overall device while maintaining consistent separation performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by using a portion of its own effluent gas to maintain the gas flow conditions necessary for separation. This self-sustaining approach reduces dependence on external gas sources and complex pumping systems, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining reliable separation performance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances separation efficiency and resolution while minimizing the challenges associated with gas flow limitations, allowing for improved ion throughput and reduced operational demands on the mass spectrometer system.
Implementation Method 1
a gas recirculator having an inlet end opening to a location downstream of the ion separation region and an outlet end opening to a location upstream of the ion separation region. The gas recirculator has a pump for causing gas to flow from its inlet end to its outlet end
Implementation Method 2
The gas recirculator has a pump for causing gas to flow from its inlet end to its outlet end
Implementation Method 3
Ion mobility separation utilizes the transport of analyte ions through a gas in the presence of an electric field to temporally or spatially separate the ions according to their mobility cross-sections
Implementation Method 4
a constant potential difference is maintained between adjacent members such that a constant electric field is produced
Implementation Method 5
Ion losses are typically avoided by RF pseudo-potential well arranged to confine ions radially and may be used to transport ions efficiently by acting as an ion guide
Data Source
AI summary
An ion mobility analyser is disclosed having a gas flow directed along the ion travel axis and a set of electrodes to which DC voltages are applied to establish a DC field. The opposing forces of the gas flow and DC field cause ions to be trapped within a separation region in axial regions determined by their ion mobilities. A gas recirculator, having inlet and outlet ends respectively located downstream and upstream of the separation region, supplies at least fifty percent of the gas flow within the separation region, thereby reducing vacuum pumping requirements.